Thelman sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Thelma, Telford, and Theron are the closest matches by sound. Most share Thelman's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"will, desire, divine purpose"
"laurel tree"
"entry, means of approach"
"God is my oath, my God is abundance"
"of Dionysus, follower of Zeus"
"a fertile plain, level country"
"prosperity, fair weather, rich ore vein"
"blessed warrior"
"butcher, one who slaughters"
"Helper to the priest; free-born noble"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Thelman — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Thelman.
Rhythm: Thelman is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.